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Systems and methods for implementing haptics for pressure sensitive keyboards

  • US 8,674,941 B2
  • Filed: 12/29/2010
  • Issued: 03/18/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A keyboard system, comprising:

  • one or more pressure sensitive keys configured to provide analog output signals corresponding to each given one of the pressure sensitive keys that is representative of the level of pressure applied to the given key during a key pressure application event of a given applied pressure level;

    pressure sensing interface circuitry coupled to receive the analog output signal from each given one of the pressure sensitive keys, the pressure-sensing interface circuitry being configured to simultaneously provide both haptics key pressure indication signals and separate digital key emulation key pressure indication signals by respective separate signal paths and responsive to each of the same given key pressure application events applied to the corresponding same given one of the pressure sensitive keys, the haptics key pressure indication signals and separate digital key emulation key pressure indication signals both being representative of at least two respective different levels of pressure applied to the corresponding given one of the pressure sensitive keys, the at least two different levels of pressure comprising at least first and second different levels of pressure; and

    haptics actuation circuitry coupled and configured to impart a variable haptics motion characteristic independently to each given one of the pressure sensitive keys in response to each given key pressure application event based at least in part on the haptics key pressure indication signals provided by the pressure sensing interface circuitry corresponding to the pressure level applied to the corresponding given one of the pressure sensitive keys during each given key pressure application event such that a first haptics motion is imparted to a given one of the pressure sensitive keys at the first pressure level applied during a first key pressure application event to the given one of the pressure sensitive keys that is different than a second haptics motion that is imparted to the given one of the pressure sensitive keys at the second pressure level applied during a second and different key pressure application event to the given one of the pressure sensitive keys; and

    where the pressure sensing interface circuitry is coupled to provide the haptics key pressure indication signals to the haptics actuation circuitry in response to the given key pressure application events;

    where the pressure sensing interface circuitry is configured for coupling to provide a digital key emulation key pressure indication signal corresponding to a given key pressure application event to a keyboard controller that is separate from the haptics actuation circuitry and the pressure sensing interface circuitry at the same time that the pressure sensing interface circuitry provides a separate haptics key pressure indication signal corresponding to the same given key pressure application event to the haptics actuation circuitry; and

    where each given one of the pressure sensitive keys comprises a keycap and separate haptics actuation circuitry, the separate haptics actuation circuitry for each given keycap comprising a separate piezo transducer coupled to separately vibrate the given keycap; and

    wherein the pressure sensing interface circuitry is coupled to a legacy digital keyboard controller through switching circuitry; and

    wherein the switching circuitry is configured to convert a high/low digital output stream into a stream of alternating opens and shorts using a separate optoisolator or transistor provided for each corresponding pressure sensitive analog key switch location.

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